On Sunday, Egypt’s Minister of Local Development, Manal Awad, met with Rania Hedaya, Regional Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and Ahmed Rizk, Head of the UN-Habitat Cairo Office, to discuss future areas of collaboration.
During the meeting, Minister Awad highlighted the success of the 12th edition of the World Urban Forum, which took place in Cairo from November 4-8, under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. She emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to building on the outcomes of the forum, particularly in urban development, city-level initiatives, and projects aimed at sustainable urbanization across Egypt’s governorates.
Rania Hedaya praised the Ministry’s pivotal role in the success of the event, recognizing the Ministry’s support in hosting the forum and the collaborative effort that demonstrated Egypt’s commitment to urban development.
Hedaya also expressed eagerness for further cooperation with the Ministry, particularly in implementing urban development projects in Egyptian governorates. She outlined potential areas for collaboration in line with UN-Habitat’s goals, including infrastructure upgrades, sanitation projects, and urban development initiatives.
The meeting also focused on several proposed joint initiatives in both Upper and Lower Egypt, including upgrading informal settlements, improving access to drinking water and sanitation services, and enhancing urban coordination. They also discussed sharing Egypt’s successful development experiences, including the “Decent Life” presidential initiative, with other African nations through UN-Habitat’s regional offices.
This dialogue underscores the shared commitment between Egypt and UN-Habitat to advance sustainable urban development and improve living conditions across Egypt and the African continent.
